Kara Zuaro's Profile

If you're into Indian food, Suvir Saran's Devi (www.devinyc.com) has a 3-course lunch menu for $25, a 3-course dinner menu for $45, and a 5-course chef's tasting menu for $65. They serve regional Indian food and have recently added some Indian-American fusion dishes to the menu -- their masala fried chicken is pretty delicious!

Yeah, but you gotta be careful with all those greens. When I first joined a CSA a few years ago, I was going to town on all the delicious spinach and kale and broccoli rabe that came with my first spring share -- I ate more greens in a week than I'd ever eaten in my life and couldn't figure out why I was feeling so bloated... A word to the wise: CSAs are wonderful, but introducing too much fiber to your diet too quickly can cause some uncomfortable gastric side effects!

Geez, of course you don't have to be ugly to be a food blogger! But the fact is that blogs are growing out of so many magazines -- and forcing many writers to post photos of themselves. No matter how cute they are, some writers don't want to do that. I don't mind putting my face next to my words, but I am nervous about the future. Is it possible that applying for a blogging job may someday require sending a resume, writing sample, and head shot?

I have a Cuisinart Electric Teakettle ($79.95 at Williams-Sonoma), and I love it because it looks like a pretty Windsor Whistling Teakettle ($115) -- but it's less expensive, doesn't take up room on the stove, and shuts off automatically when the water boils, rather than whistling loudly and waking everyone up when I make my early-morning tea.

Technically speaking, The Grinder is CHOW's "food media" blog. We simply point out what other people (bloggers, journalists, TV personalities, etc.) are saying about food. So, as much as I would have loved to hit the test kitchen and try out some of these pies, that's just not what we do here. Of course, if anyone has sampled Patty Pinner's pies, please let us know how they are -- I'm curious, too!

I'm on Union Street between Smith and Hoyt, and the whole block is blocked off with cones -- and there are signs on every tree saying that "Gourmet Next Door" is filming here tomorrow (8-20). Is that Amy's new show?